By Noah Joseph
Last week, CanterburyLive highlighted some of the best fillies and mares bred in Minnesota that have had success on the track and in the breeding shed. But what about horses that ran here that were not bred in Minnesota? Well there are several good ones, and some have even gone on to produce famous offspring.
Balbonella was one of the most influential mares to race at Canterbury. Her win in the 1988 Lady Canterbury was one of four stakes wins. In the breeding shed, she produced six foals, three of them winners including Key of Luck (by Chief’s Crown) and Always Loyal (by Zilzal). However, her son Anabaa stands out the most. By Danzig, Anabaa won several graded stakes in Europe. He retired to stud and became a successful stallion. His best offspring was three time Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and recent inductee into the National Horse Racing Hall of Fame; Goldikova.
Savannah Slew was the winner of the Canterbury Oaks in 1985, one of four stakes wins in her short career. But as a broodmare, she had even more success. She produced two graded stakes winners. The first was Admiralty (by Strawberry Road) and Astra (by Theatrical). Astra won eight stakes wins, three of them at Grade 1 level.
Skatingonthinice was a gray mare, who could put a chill on her foes, finishing in the money 26 times in 46 starts, including two stakes wins, one of them the Minneapolis Handicap at Canterbury Downs. In the breeding shed, she produced 1999 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner up Chief Seattle (by Seattle Slew), and Greyciousness (by Miswaki). Greyciousness went on to produce the Grade 1 stakes winning sprinter The Factor.
As Dark Star once said, “And last but not least, the Launch.” Turbo Launch is well known for her undefeated two year old campaign in 1987, including her win over Lost Kitty in the 1987 Canterbury Debutante. In the breeding shed, she failed to produce a runner as good as her, but her daughter Turko’s Turn (by Turkoman), was a winner on the track and in the breeding shed. Turko’s Turn produced Canterbury winner Dehere’s Turn (by Dehere) and the 2001 Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner and Champion Three Year-Old-Colt; Point Given.
This year, fine fillies and mares such as Thoughtless, Sweet Tapper, Hotshot Anna, and most recently 2-year-old Amy’s Challenge have won here this meeting. (this filly won by 16 ½ lengths on Sunday, earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure, and reportedly attracted a $1 million offer). In a few years, hopefully these mares will have foals, and just maybe, one of them will become a successful runner as well.
